MEET Sparky, a one-year-old female barn owl who has got her claws into a new role helping to spread the word about the conservation of her species.

She will make her public debut in Dalby Forest, near Pickering, North Yorkshire, on Sunday, as part of the Forestry Commission’s second Dalbyology Fun Day on the 8,600-acre estate.

The family event aims to shed light on a whole host of ‘ologies’ from ornithology to geology, with themed crafts, walks and activities for children.

Sparky was found in the wild as a baby in the Yorkshire Wolds and was foolishly ‘adopted’ by passers-by, little realising that her mother was probably close by.

Owls become imprinted for life by close human contact.

After the RSPCA were called in, Sparky was placed with the Ryedale Rehab wildlife sanctuary, in Malton.

Jean Thorpe, who runs the sanctuary, said: "There is no way Sparky would survive in the wild now, but with us she will be safe and well fed.

"We get all sorts of creatures at the centre, many of which we can rehabilitate and return to the countryside.

"But you have to know your zoology to make the right call.

"For Sparky, her job now is to help humans understand owl-life better and get kids hooked on wildlife at the Dalbyology day."

Other attractions at the event will include members from Scarborough’s Rotunda Geology Group, who will show fossils revealing what dinosaurs ate for breakfast.

Forest rangers will lead archaeology tours to view Dalby’s amazing network of rabbit warrens, once used to produce meat and fur for hats.

Scarborough and Ryedale Astronomical Society will spotlight ‘heliology’ - the study of the sun - using telescopes to produce brilliant views of solar flares thousands of miles long.

The event is free and based at Staindale Lake, two miles along the forest drive from the Dalby Forest visitor centre.

The forest toll still applies to cars.

Activities run from 10am to 4pm.

For more information, call 01751-460295, or visit forestry.gov.uk/yorkshireandthehumber